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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Lake County Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

County Boards & Commissions — Tuesday, December 9, 2025
BodyLake County, Indiana
SessionCounty Boards & Commissions
DateTuesday, December 9, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:38:59

Original source
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0:00

Take it away from somebody that builds.

0:09

Yeah.

0:17

So it was a lot better.

0:18

And I saw the email.

0:35

Full time.

0:36

Oh my God.

0:41

Where's my teeth?

0:46

That sounded like an addict, didn't it?

0:50

Whatever.

0:54

So we will conduct ourselves.

1:08

I mean the training that I do for training.

1:15

I just like it.

1:19

I know it's all going back a few years at the end of the last track.

1:27

Two bills.

1:29

County council meeting now in session.

1:31

Please rise for a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

1:45

Thank you.

1:48

Pledge of the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God.

1:59

Liberty and Justice for all.

2:12

Second district Ronald Brewers.

2:14

Third District Charlie Brown.

2:16

Fourth district Pete Lindamoters?

2:17

Present.

2:17

Fifth district, Christine Seat.

2:19

Here.

2:19

Six districts and fifths.

2:21

Here.

2:23

Present.

2:23

Madam Chair, if if you could make an announcement that the election board meeting, if anybody's here for it is down the hall in the large conference room.

2:31

I think you just did that.

2:34

Thank you.

2:36

Thank you.

2:36

And I want to remind my council at this time we have an executive board.

2:40

I mean, yes, an executive meeting after this meeting.

2:45

Uh uh minutes.

2:49

Motion not approved November 18th.

2:52

Second.

2:53

Motion's been made and seconded to approve the minutes of November 18th and seconded.

3:01

Discussion.

3:02

All in favor, signify by aye.

3:04

Aye.

3:04

Aye.

3:05

Opposed.

3:05

Motion passes seven zero.

3:08

It's been a while since I said that.

3:11

Words and resolutions.

3:15

Uh resolution recognizing December as national human rights.

3:19

I'm gonna pass my gavel to my vice chair, Councilman Brewer.

3:26

Whereas on December 10th, 1948, United Nations General Assembly crafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

3:50

Regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political, or other opinion.

4:00

National or social origin, birth or other status.

4:07

And whereas human rights day is observed on December 10th each year, marking the anniversary of the UDHR's adoption, which is the most translated document in the world, available in more than five hundred languages.

4:28

And whereas it is important to acknowledge that people of different cultures and creeds are still people.

4:36

And we must be careful of differentiating ourselves from our fellow humans so much that we forget this core truth.

5:00

And whereas in the decades since the adoption of the UDHR, human rights have become more recognized and more guaranteed across the globe through advocacy, education, and reflection, teaching about human rights, promoting social justice campaigns, and encouraging community engagement.

5:15

And whereas a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations, the UDHR is a global blueprint for international, national, and local laws and policies.

5:31

And we're as the Lake County Council recognizes there's a fight for rights and equality never ends and encourages residents to stand up for equality, justice, and the dignity of all humans.

5:47

Now therefore, let it be resolved that the Lake County Council hereby recognizes December as National Human Rights Month and December 10th, 2025 as human rights day.

5:59

So resolved this ninth day of December 2025.

6:16

Second.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████19%
Transportation Safety███████████████15%
Personnel Matters█████████████13%
Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%
Public Finance Management███████████11%
Public Comment██████6%
Labor Relations██████6%
Public Safety████4%
Public Engagement████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Lake County Council Regular Meeting - December 9, 2025

The Lake County Council met on December 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM in Crown Point, Indiana, to consider a wide range of financial transfers, grant approvals, ordinances, resolutions, and appointments. The meeting lasted approximately 45 minutes of public session followed by an executive session. Key actions included approval of $135,000 for the Coroner’s Office, passage of a resolution recognizing December as National Human Rights Month, and debate over the number of contracted attorneys. A public comment from Gary Public Transportation Corporation highlighted service expansion and requested a recurring annual investment of $4 million.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes – Approved minutes from the November 18, 2025 regular meeting (motion passed 7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Denise Diller (GPTC) – Representing Gary Public Transportation Corporation, Diller provided an extensive update on achievements since receiving county funding. She reported that GPTC expanded its service area from 54th Avenue to 102nd Avenue, added 20 buses (up from 10 in 2023), purchased 11 paratransit vehicles, and saved $900,000 on personnel through consolidation. New LED lighting at the 35th Street terminal saved $94,000 in utilities. GPTC partnered with NIPSCO for lighting upgrades, with Indiana University and Calumet College for student transit, and with a local company for motorized bike sharing. Diller stated that 70 riders per bus were traveling to Amazon facilities. She requested the council consider a recurring investment of $4 million per year for four years to support transit as an economic development engine. She noted the RDA encouraged fleet expansion but did not commit operational funding.

Discussion Items

  • Coroner’s Office Transfer ($135,000) – Coroner David Niemeyer personally appeared to request a transfer from various line items to purchase eight Motorola radios (with charging, programming, and mapping) for deputy safety, plus a replacement van for the 2007 vehicle. Council discussed group purchasing options; the coroner had already obtained a discounted bulk price. Motion passed 7-0.
  • Contract Attorney Review – During consideration of four consulting contracts, Council members raised concerns about the number of attorneys retained by the council (four total) and potential duplication of tasks. Councilman Randy Brewer questioned each attorney about their roles. Tom O’Donnell and Ray Szarmach both cited institutional knowledge and quick turnaround on ordinances and resolutions. Shana Levinson handles litigation and appeals. Linda Garcia-Marmolejo maintains ordinance codification and legal research. Councilman Charlie Brown expressed worry about conducting such discussions in public, but council attorney affirmed it was proper. After debate, contracts were approved as follows: O’Donnell (5-2), Szarmach (5-2), Levinson (4-3), Garcia-Marmolejo (5-2). Opponents cited fiscal responsibility and overlapping duties.
  • Economic Revitalization Area Declaration – Declaratory Resolution for Venture One LLC passed 7-0 without further discussion.
  • Project Labor Agreement Ordinance – Ordinance requiring Project Labor Agreements for projects receiving economic incentives was deferred to the January 13, 2026 meeting.
  • Mileage Rate Ordinance – Deferred to January 13, 2026, pending federal rate setting.

Key Outcomes

  • Resolutions Passed (all 7-0):
    • Recognizing December as National Human Rights Month.
    • Approving $287,500 transfer from CEDIT Fund (4012) to 2025 SRF Bond Debt Service Fund (4359).
    • Authorizing transfers to Group Employee Benefits Self Insurance Accrual Fund, Non-Reverting Self Insurance Liability Fund, and Jail Inmate Medical Fund.
    • Requesting statewide 911 and enhanced prepaid wireless telecommunications service charge be placed on the Indiana General Assembly’s 2026 legislative agenda.
  • Ordinances Passed (all 7-0 on final reading):
    • Part-Time Employee Pay Rate Ordinance for 2026.
    • Holiday Schedule Ordinance for calendar year 2026.
  • Grant Approvals:
    • Juvenile Court: Indiana Department of Corrections Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) grant renewal.
    • Juvenile Detention Center: Indiana Office of Court Services Improvement Grant Program – Lake County Community Corrections Juvenile Grant renewal.
    • Sheriff: U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Indiana DNR 2026 Marine Patrol Assistance Grant renewal.
  • Financial Transfers:
    • Coroner’s Office: approved $135,000 transfer.
    • County Assessor: approved $50,000 transfer and $14,400 appropriation.
    • Calumet, Center, Ross, St. John Township Assessors: each approved a -$3,600 appropriation reduction.
    • Criminal Courts: approved $45,879 transfer.
    • Superior Court IV: approved $1,800 transfer.
    • Motor Vehicle (B): approved $180,000 transfer from various line items to overtime for snow removal.
    • Public Works: approved $24,000 transfer to overtime.
    • Sheriff: resolution to pay outstanding 2023 and 2024 invoices from 2025 budget.
    • Criminal Division Public Defender: approved $7,000 transfer to office supplies.
  • Health Department: Ordinance establishing the Lake County Health Department’s Autism Trauma and Injury Prevention Grant Fund as a non-reverting fund, passed on second reading (7-0).
  • Appointments:
    • Board of Zoning Appeals: Charles Gamblin appointed (replacing Bob Zubrick who resigned for medical reasons).
    • County Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team: Judge Julie Cantrell and Eric Zegaczewski reappointed.
    • Contractors Licensing Board: Sal Espino (Plumbing) and Dave Soderquist (Electrical) reappointed.
    • County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals: Carly A. Brandenburg and Kenneth Barksdale reappointed.
    • Lake County Redevelopment Commission: Councilwoman Christine Cid and John Brezik reappointed.
    • Northwest Indiana Community Action Corporation (CoAction): Councilman Pete Lindemulder appointed, with Councilman Tim Brown as proxy.
    • Contractors Licensing Board (Council appointment): Councilman Charlie Brown appointed.
    • Garner Scholarship Committee: Councilman Pete Lindemulder and Councilwoman Christine Cid appointed.

Meeting Transcript

Take it away from somebody that builds. Yeah. So it was a lot better. And I saw the email. Full time. Oh my God. Where's my teeth? That sounded like an addict, didn't it? Whatever. So we will conduct ourselves. I mean the training that I do for training. I just like it. I know it's all going back a few years at the end of the last track. Two bills. County council meeting now in session. Please rise for a moment of reflection, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you. Pledge of the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God. Liberty and Justice for all. Second district Ronald Brewers. Third District Charlie Brown. Fourth district Pete Lindamoters? Present. Fifth district, Christine Seat. Here. Six districts and fifths. Here. Present. Madam Chair, if if you could make an announcement that the election board meeting, if anybody's here for it is down the hall in the large conference room. I think you just did that. Thank you. Thank you. And I want to remind my council at this time we have an executive board. I mean, yes, an executive meeting after this meeting. Uh uh minutes. Motion not approved November 18th. Second. Motion's been made and seconded to approve the minutes of November 18th and seconded. Discussion. All in favor, signify by aye. Aye. Aye. Opposed. Motion passes seven zero. It's been a while since I said that. Words and resolutions. Uh resolution recognizing December as national human rights. I'm gonna pass my gavel to my vice chair, Councilman Brewer. Whereas on December 10th, 1948, United Nations General Assembly crafted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political, or other opinion.

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